Commissioners, fair board solving fair manager dilemma

Wahkiakum County Commissioners and members of the Wahkiakum Fair Board of Directors are getting closer to defining how to handle the vacant position of fair manager.

Most recent Manager Becky Ledtke left the position in February. Her position had been under the WSU Cooperation Extension Agent's office, but WSU ended the arrangement over concerns that the number of hours Ledtke worked would qualify her for benefits, which weren't budgeted. Ledtke also exceeded the budgeted hours for the period while working on required reports and a fund raising dinner. Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bigelow has told the officials that labor law doesn't allow the manager to volunteer hours doing work associated with her job.

Commissioners and fair board members discussed how and who should pay and supervise the manager position.

Commissioners said they wanted the fair board to supervise the position, and fair board members said they aren't set up to be an employer, so the county would have to assume that role.

"The fair board oversees the manager," said Commissioner Dan Cothren, "unless it involves something major that would cost a lot and needs to come before the commissioners.

"It's your fair."

Commissioner Blair Brady recalled that a few years ago, the commission delegated authority for hiring and firing the manager to the fair board.

"It turned out to be a bad decision and we retracted it," Brady said. He added that he thinks the fair board should pick the manager, who the county would hire, and the county would maintain the fair facilities.

Fair board President Bill Chamberlain commented that with the county limiting funding for the manager's hours, someone else has to be responsible for things like grounds maintenance.

The group discussed the feasibility of asking fair board volunteers to do groundskeeping and the feasibility of contracting for mowing. Chamberlain said fair board members are volunteering time and providing mechanical services. They can do some of the work, "but it's the continuous mowing that's the killer," he said.

The group discussed the value and cost of fund raising activities.

Several years ago, county commissioners said they wanted the fair to become self sufficient, and since then, managers have embarked on a variety of fund raising ventures, such as the Valentine's Day Dinner and renting facilities. Chamberlain commented that the cost of manpower to put on events sometimes exceeds the revenue the events or activities produce.

Commissioner Brady commented that it would make sense to discontinue the unprofitable or troublesome events and activities.

Commissioners also suggested using volunteers, such as fair board members, as often as possible to manage activities.

"It's tough, I know; you have volunteered a lot," Cothren said. "I want to support the fair, but there's money issues."

"The problem is that we have only $10,000 for the position," Brady said. "The problem is that the number of hours needed to manage the fair grounds and put on the fair exceeds the $10,000 [which commissioners have budgeted for the position]."

Commissioners agreed they would delegate the hiring of a manager to the fair board. They committed to funding the manager position at $10,000, and they voted to cover the cost of Ledtke's extra labor in January and February.